Combined breech mechanism and recoil-checking device for breech-loading ordnance.



No. 783,127. v PATENTED FEB. 21,1905.

I s. N..MoGLEAN. COMBINED BREEGH MECHANISM AND RECOIL CHECKING DEVICEFOR BREEGH LOADING'ORDNANGE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 24, 1900.

mi k 2 NITED STATES PATENT Patented February 21, 1905.

FFicE.

COMBINED BREECH MECHANISM AND RECOlL-CHECKING DEVICE FOR BREECH-LOADINGORDNANCE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent Nov 783,127, dated February21, 1905.

Application filed December 24, 1900. Serial No.40,963.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL N. MoCLEAN, a resident of Cleveland, Ohio,have invented a new and useful Improvement in a Combined BreechMechanism and Recoil-Checking Device for Breech-Loading Ordnance, whichinvention is fully set forth in the following specification.

My invention relates to ordnance, and has for its object to'simplify theconstruction and improve the operation of the breech mechanism andrecoil-controlling devices connected therewith.

In most pieces of heavy ordnance as at present constructed thebreech-block is of the mutilated screw-threaded type, in which thescrew-threads relied upon to withstand the shock of discharge onlyoccupy-one-half of the exterior surface of the block. This renders itnecessary to make the breech-block much longer than would otherwise berequired in order to provide the requisite surface upon which to out thenecessary screwthreads. The increase in size and weight over what wouldbe required if a continuously-screw-threaded block were employed isnearly, if not quite, one hundred per cent. and the difficulties ofmanipulation due to this increased size and weight are also greatlyinscrew-thread block can be securely locked in position or unlocked by apartial revolution on its axis, whereas the continuously-screwthreadedblock, as heretofore employed, requires as many complete revolutions onits axis to lock and unlock it as there are threads upon its surface,thereby consuming much time, and this fact alone'has heretofore beensufiicient to cause the blocks with mutilated screw-threads to beuniversally preferred by artillery and ordnance officers. Furthermore,in hydropneumatic brakes for controlling recoil as the same have beenheretofore con-' structed the resistance due to the elasticity of theair or other gas and the throttling of the water or other liquid as itpassed from one compartment to another has been depended upon toovercome the recoil, and the vast energy of the recoil has beendissipated or only used to return the gun to firing position, while theenergy ofthe gases of discharge has been entirely ignored as a powercapable of overcoming the recoil and performing other useful work in themanipulation of the gun.

One of the objects of the present invention is to construct ahydropneumatic brake in which the engine-like action of the gun actuatedby the energies of the gases of discharge and the recoil shall becompelled to do work both in the recoil and counter-recoil of the gun.Preferably this is accom plished by compelling both the gases ofdischarge and the gun to move a liquid through a restricted passageduring recoil and counter-recoil and to utilize the liquid thus placedunder pressure for performing any desired work, such as the manipulationof the breech mechanism.

A further object of the invention is to provide a continuously threadedbreech block which shall possess all the advantages of such blocks,including light weight and strength, and which may nevertheless bequickly unlocked or locked with a minimum number of turns of the blockand to provide such block with means for automatically opening andclosing the breech. Preferably l utilize the combined energy of recoiland of the gases "of discharge as the power for actuating the creased.On the other hand, the mutilated breech mechanism and provide means forautomatically applying such power to open the breech upon thetermination of the recoil and to close the breech when the charge isinserted, though such power may be and preferably is also controlled bymanually-operated devices.

A still further object of the invention is to combine a hydropneumaticbrake of the character heretofore described with thebreech mechanism ofthe gun in such manner that the operating-motor for the breech mechanismshall constitute a by-pass through which the liquid inv thebrake-cylinder is vented after recoil in order to permit the gun to re-'turn to firing position, thereby effecting the operation of the breechmechanism by the hydropneumatic brake and the control of the latter bythe breech mechanism that is, each operates to limit and control thefunctions of the other.

The inventive idea involved may receive various mechanical expressions,one of which I have for the purpose of illustration shown in theaccompanying drawings, in which-- Figure 1 is a broken side elevation ofa gun embodying my invention with parts in section. Fig. 2 is a planview of the breech end thereof with parts broken away. Fig. 3 is adiagrammatic view showing the valve for controlling the pressure. Fig. 4is a broken plan, and Fig. 5 is a sectional side elevation showing oneway of automatically shifting said valve.

Referring to the drawings, 1 is a gun mounted to slide in a saddle 2,which saddle is carried by trunnions having bearings in a rigid part 3of the carriage. A cylinder 4 is fixedly secured to the saddle,preferably at the under side of the gun, and has therein two pistons 5and 6, abutting stiff stop-springs 5 and 6, of which piston 5 isattached to the gun by a hollow piston-rod 7 and a band 8, while piston6 is attached by a piston-rod 9, passingthrough piston-rod 7, to a slide10, capable of receiving and being actuated by the gases of discharge.Preferably the piston-rod is in two sections, as shown in Fig. 1, thesections being connected by an arm 11, to which the lower section ispermanently attached, while the upper section is adj ustably securedthereto and has its rear end guided by an opening in the band 8. Theslide 10 hasagas-nozzle or other means (not shown) for receiving thegases of discharge to actuate the same in a forward direction upon thedischarge of the gun. The specific construction of one form ofgas-nozzle which may be employed for this purpose is shown, described,and claimed in my United States Patent No. 715,839, and the same neednot, therefore, be described in detail herein. The space 12 between thepistons 5 and 6 in cylinder 4: is filled with air compressed to severalatmospheres, while the spaces 13 and 14 between the pistons and the endsof the cylinder are filled with a suitable fluid, preferably, anoncompressible liquid, such as glycerin, which spaces 13 and 14communicate with each other through passage 15. (Shown in dotted linesin Fig. 1.) A supply ofliquid, which I shall hereinafter refer to asglycerin, is contained in any suitable receptacle or tank 16, mounted,by preference, on the saddle 2, which tank is connected by pipes 17 and18 with the spaces 13 and 14, respectively, in the cylinder 4, suitablevalves 19 being provided, which permit the liquid to pass from the tankto the cylinder, but prevent its flow in the reverse direction.

Referring to Fig. 2, 20 is the breech-block, which is shaped like thefrustum of a cone at its forward portion, while its rear portion iscylindrical, both portions being screwthreaded, the screw-threads on thethe frustoconical portion engaging corresponding screw-threads in thebreech end of the gun when the breech is closed, while the screwthreadson the cylindrical portion engage corresponding screw-threads on theinterior of the breech-block carrier 21, all as clearly shown in Fig. 2.This carrier 21 is preferably provided with a cylindrical rearwardextension closed at its rear end and inclosing a worm-wheel 22, rigidlysecured to the rear end of the breech-block, while a motor 23 issupported on a pin 24, mounted in lugs or cars 25, pro ecting from therear of the gun, and

has a toothed wheel or disk 26 revolving in a plane parallel with theaxis of the gun and operatively engaging the worm-wheel 22 on thebreech-block. The construction of the motor 23 in detail is not shown,since any form of motor capable of continuously driving the toothedwheel or disk in either direction may be employed. It will be understoodthat the breech-block carrier is mounted to turn in the usual manner onthe hinge-pin or pintle 24.

The operation of the breech mechanism as thus far described is asfollows: The breech being closed, as shown in Fig. 2, fluid-pressurefrom any suitable source of power is admitted to the motor in directionto revolve the wheel or disk 26 from right to left, as shown by thearrow, whereby the worm-wheel 22, and with it the breech-block 20, isrevolved in a direction to withdraw the breechblock from the gun intothe carrier. By reason of the frusto-conical shape of the breechblockone or two complete turns of the block are sufiicient to entirelydisengage the th roads on the block from those in thegun and to withdrawthe block rearward into the carrier, so that the worm-wheel 22 engagesany suitable stop to preventits fu rther rearward movement, (which stopmay be, and preferably is, the rear wall of the carrier,) and the motor,breechblock, and carrier thereby become so locked together that thecontinued rotation of the motor in the same direction serves to swingthe block and carrier away from the gun and around the pintle 24 as acenter. A springpressed catch 27 projects through the side wall of thecarrier 21 when the latter is swung away from the breech of the gun andimmediately in front of the worm-wheel 22 when said wheel is in itsrearmost position in the carrier. When the carrier is in the positionshown in Fig. 2, a pin 28 on the carrier abuts against the breech of thegun and acts to withdraw the catch from in front of the wormwheel; butas the carrier swings away from the breech the catch is pushed in frontof the wheel 22 by its spring. When it is desired to close the breech,the motor is reversed, and the tendency thereof is to revolve thewormwheel from left to right; but the catch 27, acts to prevent thewheel from advancing, and hence locks the motor, the carrier, and theblock together, with the result that the carrier is turned on itshinge-pin until the catch IIS pin 28 strikes the breech end of the gunand withdraws the catch from in front of the-wheel 22, thus freeing thelatter, which is then revolved and the breech-block is firmly screwedinto its seat. It will thus be seen that there are but two movementseach to the opening and closing of the breechviz., that of rotation tolock or unlock the block and the swinging movement to remove it from orpresent it to the breech.

Any form of motor may be employed which is capable of being continuouslyoperated in either direction, and any suitable motive power may beemployed. Ihave shown means whereby the combined energies of recoil andof the gases of discharge may be utilized as the motive power. For thispurpose the space 12 in the cylinder 4 between the pistons 5 and 6 isfilled with any suitable gas, preferably compressed air, and the tank 16and the spaces 13 and 14 in cylinder 4 are filled with anynoucompressible liquid, as glycerin. Interposed between theglycerin-filled spaces 13 and 14 and the motor 23 is a valve 29 forcontrolling the flow of fluid, hereinafter referred to as glycerin, fromthe spaces 13 and 14 to the motor and from the'motor to the exhaust. Oneform of valve which may be employed for this purpose is shown in diagramin Fig. 3, wherein the valve-stem 30 is shown keyed to the four-wayvalve 31. In the position shown in Fig. 3 glycerin passes from the space14 via pipe 32, through the valve 29 and pipe 33 to the motor 23, andexhausts through pipe 34, valve 29, and pipe 35 to the tank 16. Toreverse the motor, the valve is given a quarter-turn, so as to connectpipes 32 and 34 and pipes 33 and 35, when pressure will enter the motorthrough pipe 34 and exhaust through pipe 33. The valve 29 is mounted onthe saddle 2, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and has a handle or lever 36,by which it may be operated by hand or automatically. For the automaticoperation the lever 36 is located in the path of a pin 37, projectingfrom and traveling with the gun upon recoil, the parts being soproportioned that the lever escapes from the pin when the valve has beenturned through an angle of ninety degrees. Referring now to Figs. 2, 4,5, 38 is a casing on the valve-casing 29, and 39 is a rigid immovableabutment therein, while 40 is a wing or vane secured to and turning withthe valve-stem 30 andmaking practically fluidtight contact with theinterior wall of the casing 38. A pipe 41 connects the casing-38 withthe source of pressure-as, for example, by way of the pipe 32 (see Fig.1)*and a larger pipe 42 leads from casing 38 to the exhaust. A valve 43is mounted so as to control both pipes 41 and 42 and is normally pressedupward by a spring 44, so as to close pressure-pipe 41 and openexhaust-pipe 42,

said valve being provided with a round-headed stem 45, which in itsuppermost position is below the path of the pin 37. A pin 46 projectsradially from the cartridge-chamber out through the breech of the gunand is provided with a spring 47, whichacts to press the pin inward withits end in the path of the cartridge and preferably on a line with thecartridge-rim, as shown in Fig. 2. The exterior end of pin 46 is beveledon its under side, as at 48, Fig. 5. f

The operation is as follows: When the gun is fired, piston 5 movesrearward with the gun, and piston 6 moves forward with the gasnozzle 10,as described in my aforementioned patent. This acts to further compressthe air in space 12 and to draw glycerin from tank 16 into spaces 13 and14, 'and as the gun recoils the pin 37 strikes lever 36 and shifts thevalve 31 into position shown in Fig. 3. When the recoil action hasceased, the air compressed in space 12 between pistons 5 and 6 acts toforce the pistons apart, and thereby places the glycerin in spaces 13and 14 under pressure, and these spaces being connected by passage 15pressure therein is equalized and passes through the motor and actuatesit to unlock the breech-block and swing it to one side, as heretoforedescribed. When the carrier is swung fully open, it strikes a stop 49,Fig. 2, which arrests its movement, while the pressure in the motorserves to hold the carrier firmly in its open position. During thisopening movement the gun has moved slowly forward in its cradle orsaddle 2, and just as the carrier strikes the stop 49 the pin 46 comesopposite to but does not touch the rounded head of valve-stem 45, andwhen the cartridge is inserted into the gun pin 46 is pushed outwardthereby and its beveled end 48 strikes and depresses said valve-stem, asshown in Fig. 5, thereby opening the valve 43 and permitting glycerinunder pressure to pass into casing 38 and shift the parts into positionshown in Fig. 4, thereby shifting valve-stem 30 and valve 31 intoposition to reverse motor 23 to close the breech. When valve 43 isdepressed to permit pressures to pass to casing 38, it also acts toclose exhaustvpipe 42; but during the closing of the breech pin 46advances with the gun and slips off of the head of valve-stem 45 andspring 44 acts to shift valve 43 so as to close pressure-pipe 41 andopen exhaust-pipe 42, so that upon the recoil of the gun when the nextcharge is fired the glycerin is readily forced out of the casing 38 bythe movement of the wing 40 when the lever 36 is struck by pin 37, andthe rounded form of pin 46 permits it to readily depress and pass overthe head on valve-stem 45 during recoil. It will thus be seen that inthe act of returning the gun to normal position after recoil the breechmechanism is both opened and closed and that the return of the gun tofiring position is controlled by the operation of the breech mechanism.

What 1 claim is 1. In a breech-loading gun, the combination ofacontinuously-threaded breech-block, with means combining energy derivedfrom the recoil and the gases of discharge, and devices actuated by saidenergy to operate the breechblock.

2. In a breech-loading gun, the combination of a continuously -threadedfrusto -conical breech-block, With means combining energy derived fromthe recoil and the gases of discharge, and devices actuated by saidenergy to operate the breech-block.

3. In a breech-loading gun, the combination of a contimiously-threadedbreech-block, and a carrier therefor, with means combining energyderived from the recoil and the gases of discharge, and a motor actuatedby said energy and operativcly connected with the breechblock andcarrier.

4. In a breech-loading gun, the combination of a continuously threadedfrusto conical breech-block, a carrier therefor, means storing energyderived from the recoil and the gases of discharge, a motor operated bysuch stored energy and opcratively connected to the block and carrier.

5. The combination of a breech-loading gun, with a breech-block, and amotor for operating the same, with means operated by the recoil of thegun to admit pressure to the motor to open the breech, and meansoperated by the insertion of the charge to reverse the motor and closethe breech.

6. The combination ofabreech-loading gun, a breech-block therefor, amotor for actuating the block, and means operated by the recoil of thegun for admitting pressure to the motor to open the block, and byinsertion of the charge to reverse the motor and close the block.

7. The combination of a breech-loading gun, and its breech-block,\vith amotor, a valve operated positively by the recoil of the gun-to admitpressure to the motor to open the breech, and a pressure device renderedoperative by the insertion of the charge to shift the valve and reversethe motor to close the breech.

8. The combination of a breech-loading gun, and its breech-block, with amotor for operating the same, a four-Way valve controlling the passageof pressure to said motor, means operated by the recoil of the gun toshift the valve to admit pressure to the motor to open the breech, anauxiliary motor for shifting the valve in one direction, and meansoperated upon the insertion of the charge to admit pressure to saidauxiliary motor and shift the same for reversing the motor to close thebreech.

9. The combination of a breech-load ing gun, a breech-block, a carriertherefor, and a motor operatively connected to the block and carrier, avalve controlling the passage of pressure to said motor, means operatedby the recoil of the gun for shifting said valve to admit pressure tothe motor to open the breech, and a pressure device controlled by theinsertion of the charge for shifting said val ve to reverse the motorand close the breech.

10. The combination of a breech-loading gun, a breech-block, a carrier,and a motor operatively connected to said block and carrier, With meansstoring energy derived from the recoil and the gases of discharge andautomatic devices controlling the application of said energy to themotor.

11. In a breech-loading gun, the combination of a frusto-conicalbreech-block, a carrier therefor having a screw-threaded engagement Withsaid block, means combining energy derived from the recoil and the gasesof discharge, and a motor operatively connected to the block to turn itin the carrier, said motor being actuated by said combined energy.

12. The combination of a breech-loading gun, a continuously-t1]readcdfrusto-conical breech-block, a carrier having screw-threaded engagementtherewith, a motor actuated by energy derived from the recoil and thegases of discharge and means operated by the recoil of the gun to admitpressure to the motor in one direction to open breech, and by theinsertion of the charge to admitpressure to the motor in the reversedirection to close the breech. 4

13. The combination of a breech-loading gun, a continuously-threadedfrusto-conical breech-block, a carrier having screw-threaded engagementwith said block, a motor operatively connected to the block and carrier,means storing energy derived from the recoil and the gases of discharge,a four-Way valve controlling the admission of pressure due to saidenergies to the motor, means shifting said valve and admitting pressureto the motor in a direction to open the breech upon the recoil of thegun, and means controlled by the insertion of the charge for reversingthe valve and closing the breech.

14. The combination of a breech-loading gun, a breech-block, a motortherefor, actuated by energy derived from the recoil and the gases ofdischarge, a valve controlling the admission of pressure to said motor,a valvestem and lever for operating said valve, a part on the gunimpinging upon said lever upon the recoil of the gun to shift the valvein one direction, a pressure-operating device to shift the valve in theopposite direction, and means operated by the insertion of the chargeand controlling said last-named device.

15. The combination of a breech-loading gun, a frusto-conicalcontinuously-tln'eaded breech-block, a Worm-gear secured to said block,a carrier having screW-tln'eaded engagement With the block, a motorhaving Worm-teeth engaging said gear, means storing energy derived fromthe recoil and the gases of discharge, and devices controlling theapplication of pressure due to said energies to the motor in eitherdirection, whereby the breech may be opened and closed.

17. The combination of a breech-loading gun, a frusto-conicalscrew-threaded breechblock, a carrier having screw-threaded engagementwith said block, a motor operatively connected to the block, and meansantomatically admitting pressure due to the energy of recoil and thegases of discharge to the motor to open and close the breech.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence oftwo subscribing Witnesses.

SAMUEL N. MOCLEAN. Witnesses:

S. T. CAMERON, E. J. THOBEIBEN.

